Lift like a girl: How women are being empowered in a male-dominated sport

Women and girls’ are taking the phrase “lift like a girl” to new heights using it as a phrase to coin women's empowerment. They are creating content using the phrase “lift like a girl” to showcase their success in the gym and beyond, through reels following Paris Paloma’s famous track “labour” showcasing the greatness women can achieve in a male dominated space such as the free weights section of the gym. 

From winning world titles to celebrating each other's success, women and girls are proving a trailblazing effort in encouraging young girls to lift weights.

In a world where young girls are surrounded by constant diet culture propaganda, Sian Arterton, who represented England in the 2024 Commonwealth Championships and is also a successful powerlifting coach, shares how the sport of powerlifting has impacted her life;

“As someone who spent all of her childhood and teenage years surrounded by diet culture, always looking for ways to shrink myself, powerlifting has truly saved me. Never did I imagine finding a sport that allows me to exercise with no focus on how I look, but instead encourages me to feel empowered to take up space and feel proud of my body and what it can do”

Sian’s statement is a powerful testament that highlights how powerlifting and lifting weights can transform someone’s life and lead them away from the dangerous path of diet culture. Toxic diet culture perpetuates stereotypes such as lifting weights being something dangerous and leading to women becoming ‘too bulky’. “Lift like a girl” highlights that the gym can serve as a space to push yourself past your perceived potential while offering a community of others who have turned to the sport during recovery.  The community is a testament to the kindness of humans that transcends barriers.

Powerlifting has served as a forefront in encouraging young girls to explore their potential. The sport is ever-growing and has harnessed a loving community that shows up for everyone, whether you are lifting the 20kg bar or squatting over 300kg, women's empowerment within the sport is at the forefront of the community. So while some men will use “lift like a girl” as an insult, myself, Sian and others will continue to do just that and showcase the strength of women's grit and determination to succeed, whether that be in the world of sport or our careers.

Edited by Marianne Hamilton